Needle loom



July 18, 1933- F. v. GRENNOR NEEDLE LOOM Filed May 10, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 18, 1933. F. v. GRENNOR NEEDLE LOOM Filed May 10, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY r ATTORNEY i I K J July 18, 1933. F. v. GRENNOR I NEEDLE LOOM Filed May 10, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 wk mm 9 ATTORNEY Patented July 18, 1933 H UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- FRANK V. GRENNOR, OF CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO BIGELOW-BANFOBD CARPET 00., 1110., OF THOMPSONVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF mSL- GHUBETTS Application filed Kay 10,

This invention relates to looms provided with one or more needles for laying the weft in the shed, and more particularly to the needle operating mechanism.

Weft inserting needles are commonl employed upon looms adapted to weave tu t pile fabrics such as Axminster carpets and rugs.v Many of these tuft pile fabric looms employ a single weft needle, but it has been proposed heretofore to emplo a pair of needles secured to a common need e 'operating means for weaving a tuft pilevfabric having a two or three plane ground structure.

By employing two weft needles connected to the'same operating means the weaving operation is speeded up since two wefthshots are laid at the same time, but these double needlelooms as constructed heretofore are limited in use and can be employed to weave only such fabrics as are designed for the insertion of weft shots in pairs. 7

It may be desirable however in weaving certain fabrics to insert two weft shots upon one opening of the shed or sheds, and one weft shot upon the next opening of the shed, or to otherwise vary the'weft inserting opera-f tions. p T

An important feature of the present invention therefore, resides in a needle loom provided with weft inserting needles and with mechanism for selectively inserting any one or more of the needles in the shed, the arrangement bein such that in the case of a two needle loom tiie'selective mechanism will determine whether either or. both needles will be inserted by the needle operating mechanism. Y

This selective operation of the different weft needles contemplated by the present invention is not only well adapted for use in f weaving tuft pile fabrics, but ma also be employed in weaving multiple p ane and double fabrics with or without pile. ,It is also well adapted for use in weaving plane and other types of fabrics where it is'des'i-red to vary the color or character of the succes sively inserted wefts. The selective control of the weft needles contemplated by the present invention is 60 readily secured by providing a needle operat- NEEDLE mom 1932. Serial no. 810,341.

ing slide which moves alonga guide towards and fromthecloth selvage, and by providing each needle with means for connecting it to and releasing it from the slide. The means for connecting reach needle to the operating slidemay be controlled from a going. part of the loom soasfto secure the insertion of one or more needles in any desired order.

Another important featureof the present invention resides in'means for momentarily releasing the inserted needle from its operatmg means so as to retardthe needle momentarily or bring it to rest in the shed in position for the passage of the selvage shuttle through the weft carried by the needle. As a result of, this feature of the invention wherebythe travel of the needle may be arrested during the operation of the selva e shuttle a reliable operation of the latter in passin its thread through the weft results. This feature of the invention is secured b providin near the inner end of the path traveled y the needleoperating slide means for releasing. the needle or needles from the slide, and o erable to bring the needle to rest while the s ide continues itsforwardmovement. 1 a y The selective needle control of the present invention has special advantages when applied to Axminster or other looms employing an uneven beat of the lay, since it facilitates the use of needle inserting mechanism that operates with an even beat or eriod'that does not vary with the uneven eat of the la i In the Coyle Patent No. 1,825,110 grante September 29, 1931 for Pile fabric loom,

.means is shown, described, and claimedfor imparting a continuous travel to the needle throughout the loom operation so as to operate the needle with an even beat or period that does the lay.

The features of the present invention may not vary with the uneven beat of readily be employed in connection with the continuous travel and even beat or period features of said patent, since, if desired, the" contemplated by said patent, and the needle I maybe released from the slide as soon as it is withdrawn from the shed. the advantages of the even beat featuresof said patent may be secured without impart-- ing thepronounced over travel to the needle.

It is also feasible to operate a loom equipped with the selective needlev control mechanism of the present invention so that all of the needles will remain in the withdrawn position during the delay beat up movement of the lay,'and to cause the needle operating slide to complete its movement towards and from the cloth at this time without operating the needles.

()therfeatures of the invention and novel combination of'parts in addition to the above will be hereinafter described in connection i with the accompanying drawings which illustrat-e good practical forms of the invention.

, 'In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a loom equipped with the needle operating mechanism of the present invention;

Fig. 2 on a larger scale is a front elevation of the nee'dle operating mechanismin its re.- tracted position; i I

Fig. 3 is a sectional 'view'taken'on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation" ofa modified' construction for bringing the needles torest in the shed;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of part of the loom and needle operating mechanism of 1,

both needles being shown retracted;

Fig. ,6 is afront elevation of the needle operating mechanism of Fig.5, both needles being shown inserted;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing one needle inserted and the other retracted, but discloses a modified construction for operating the needles;

Fig; 8 on an enlarged scale is a front view i of means shown in Fig.6 for bringing a' r p this .block is rigidlyse'cured to a plate 29 needle to rest in the'shed'; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view ofthe needle operatingmechanism of Fig. 7. I The needle operating mechanism -"of the present invention is illustratedin the draw- "ings as associated with an Axmin'ster loom provided with tube frames for presenting the pile forming tufts to the fabric. It will be understood, however,that the means of the present invention for selectively operating the weft needles may be employed upon practically any type of needle loom.

The loom is shown in F'g. 1 of the drawings as having the usual side frames l provided withthe columns 2 adapted to support the sprockets 3 for the carrier chains 4, and

In this manner The loom hasthe usual breast plate-8 over which the fabric F is advanced as woven, and the warp yarns 'Q'forming, the shed are controlled by the harnesses 10. The lay 11 is operated from the main shaft 12 and may be actuated with an uneven beat or period as is customary in Axminster looms to delay the beat up motion ofthe lay atthe time the tuft forming frame.

The loom is shown as providedwith two weft inserting needles 13 and 14:, supported yarns are being inserted bya tube one above the other and these needles are provided in accordance with the present invention with mechanism for selectively operating either or both needles.

The invention, however, is applicable to "looms having more than two needles, and

some of the features of the invention are applicable to a loom having a single needle.

Each weft needle is sli'dably mounted in a slotted tube 15 supported by the brackets 16, and adjacent the tubes 15 are mounted the upper guide rail 17 and lower guide rail 18.

These rails are rigidly supported in spaced.

relation to each other by the brackets 19 bolted to the I-beain 20. This beam has one end supported adjacent the side of the loom by the frame 21 and its other end is supported by a second frame 21.

Upon the upper will? is slidably mounted a needle carrier 22 and upon the lower rail ".18 is slidably mounted the needle carrier 23 It is found desirable to provide a swivel connection betweenthe needle carriers and their respective needlesto prevent binding action therebetween,and to this end in the construction" shown each'carrier'22, 23 is provided with a lateral projection 24 having the hollow frame' 25 "ivotally secured thereto by the pin ach frame 25 has pivotally secured thereto by a pin '27 the block 28, and

secured to a needle and projecting outwardly through the longitudinal slot in the tube-15.

As a result of theconstruction just described the needles 13 and 1% may be independently The means'shown in Figsgl ,to 6 inclusive ",forreciprocating the weft needles 13 and 14 fcom'prises a; slide 30 formed of one portion "slidably mounted on the upper rail 17 and a second portion slidably mounted upon the lower rail 18. These two portions are con-v operated.

nected by the pin 31 upon the upper portion and adapted to cooperate with a notch formed in' a clamping-plate 32 secured to the lower .sl'ide portion. The pin connection 31 bethese portions to prevent binding -in case a guide rail is sprung.

The slide 30 is moved back and forthalong the guide rails 17, 18 in the construction.

shown by'the cable 33 secured to the lower slide portion by the clamp 32. Thiscable extends aroundgrooved sheaves 34, 35 rotatably mounted near the opposite ends of the beam 20, and the ends of the cable are secured to the o rating drum or scroll .36 securedto thelsha t 37 having the operating pinion 38 which meshes'withthe-arcuate rack 39that ment is impartedto the rack 39 ,in the construction shown fromthe main shaft 12 or extension thereof which is provided with the bevelgear 41 that meshes with .thebevel pinion 42 secured to the shaft 43. The shaft 43 is provided with the crank arm 44 which is connected to the rack 39 by the link-.45.

, It will be seen from the construction just described that when the needles are in the retracted position in which they are shown in F 2 the slide 30 may be moved along its gu de rails towards and from the shed with- I site side-of the.

out advancing the needles, unless the, needle carriers are connected to the slide by suitable mechanism such as will now be described. I In accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown the upper needle carrier 22 has pivot-ally mounted thereupon at 46 the latch hook 47 adapted to engage a pin 48 upon the upper portion of the slide 30. The latch hook 47 is continuously urged. downwardly towards the pin engaging position by a spring a: 49 that acts upon the rearportionr50 of the latch hook.' 'The needle' 'carrier '23 is provided with a similar latch hook 51 pivoted. thereup'on at 52 andadapted to engagea" pin 53 upon the lower portion of th'e'slide 30.- This latch hook is continuously urged upwardly towards the pinv engaging position by a spring 54 acting upon the rear portion 55 of the latch hook. I V

An important feature of the present invention resides in means'forselectively controlling the connections between the slide: and

needle carriers from a going part of the loom, and this is accomplished in the construction shown by providing the upper latchhook 47 I with the controller 56.,the lower end of which. is pivotally secured to an arm 57 that is secured to arock shaft 58. Rocking movement is imparted to the shaft 58 to selectively control the needle 13 from a going part of the loom such as the main shaft 12 or extension thereof by providing the shaft with a cam 59 for operating a lever6( pivoted at 61 and having its other end connected by a link 62 to an arm 63 secured to the rock shaft 58. I

The arrangement is such that the leverv is continuously held against, its operating cam by a spring 64 and when the lever is dei is retracted. :Th

pressed by a swell upon the cam 59 this will pull the actuator 56 down to trip the latch hook 47 so as to release the needle operating,

carrier 22 from the slide '30. n

and as shown the'lower end of the actuator is connected to an armr67 carried by a second rock shaft 68 adapted to be controlled from the cam 66 through the leverl69,link 70 and tram. -The arrangement is such thatthe upward movement of the lever 69 under the I I I I I I I control of the cam 66 will trip the latch hook s plvotally supported. at 40. Rocking move- I 6f" construction described a; selectivecontrol of both needles from a going'pa'rt ofthe loom is secured and either or both needles mayjre'main inactive from thesource of weft llbeheld as the needle supply and the wef ill be formed. atthebp'po I II eftjneedles 13and Ma-re. shown as havingth usual cooperatingisel- .in theirret'ractive positionofFig. 2'while the slide movesback and forth if. released by vage shuttlsg72jjwhieh' are supported-and operated. in a welllikno wn manner.

It sometimes ,happens that "the selvage=- ,shuttle fails to pass through the .loopfof the weft .as it is inserted'by a: rapidly traveling needle, and another im port'ant feature of the present invention resides" means for 'momentarily releasing a ,weftjneedle in the .shed from, its actuatingmeans so as to slow down the needle-movement or. bring it to. rest for "the cooperation of the; selvage I1 shuttle therewith; .r i Thisis accomplished in accordance with the presentinvention by providing means for releasing the carriers 22 and 23'from the slide 30 before the latter reaches the'end of its stroke in a forward directiomso thatthe needles may cometo rest in the shed while the slide continues its forward movement as shown in Fig. 6. The withdrawal of the needles as the slide is retractedisproduced by the abutting engagement of the slide with the needle carriers as shown "in, Fig. 2.

" The mechanism-shown inFigs. '5. 6 and 8 The levers1j73 and'74 may becontrolled'by cams 76 and 77 upon the shaft 12 and having cooperating therewith the levers 78 and '79,

; the' outer ends of whicharejoperatively con- 'nected to the levers 73 and 74 by the links sired to release a needle from its operating slide every time the needle is inserted this may be accomplished by employing the modified construction of Fig. 4 wherein fixed blocks 82 and. 83 provided near the forward end of thepath of the slide may be employed in place of the levers 73' and 74 to release the needle carriers from the slide and bring. the needles to rest, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. A block of rubber or the like 84 may be provided upon the tripping means 73, 74, or 82, 83 to reduce the shock as thctravcl of the needle in the shed is arrested. As the needle carriers approach the outer end of.

their path of travel they may be yieldingly arrested by striking against the yielding lever 86 pivoted at 87 and acted upon by thespring 88.

The needle operating mechanism herein shown and described may be employed to operate the needle or needles with an evenbeat or period which does not vary with the uneven beat of the lay, as contemplated in the Coyle patent above mentioned. This is accomplished by'imparting a pronounced over travel to the needles as shown in Fig. 5 of the present drawings wherein it will be noted that the needles are retracted a substantial distance from the cloth selvage as indicated by the point at which the weft thread 85 leaves the eye of the needle. I

' A further development of the present invention resides in the combination of the over travel and even beat feature of the Coyle patent with the present selective necdle control feature, whereby the advantages of the even beat'operation of the needle mechanism contemplated by said patent is secured without imparting a substantial over travel to the needle.

This is accomplished in accordance with the present invention by employing the modifled" construction shown in Figs. 7 and 9 wherein it will be noted that the slide 30 is not mounted upon the guide rails 17 and 18 for the needle carriers 22 and 23 but is mounted on a. third rail 89 spaced laterally from the rails 17 and 18 sufiiciently to permit the slide 30 to travel past the carriers 22 and 23 without operating the latter provided the latch hooks 47 and 51 of Fig. 9 are held retracted at this time by the actuators 56 and 65. The portion of the latch book 47 of Fig. 9 that engages the pin48 has its opposite faces beveled toengage the pin as the slide' 3 m ves past the'needle carrier in either direction and the same is true of thelatch hooktil.

In other respects the construction and operation of the modificationshown in Figs. 7 and 9 is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, except by mounting the slide 30 on a separate rail the needle or needles may be released from the slide in the shed as above described, and also before .the slide reaches the outer end of its stroke. As a result of this modified construction a pronounced over travel may be impartedxto the slide 30 in accordance with the disclosure of'the Coyle patent, but the needle or needles may be released from the outward traveling slide as soon as they are withdrawn from the shed, so as to avoid 1mparting this pronounced over travel to the needles.

It will be seen from the foregoing that through the construction of the present invention for selectively controlling the operation of one or more weft needles, the number of shots inserted at any one time may be controlled as desired to produce different weaves, or to vary the size, color or character of the inserted wefts, and that a more reliable cooperation of the selvage shuttle with the weft needle is secured, as well as other advantages above pointed out.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In a loom, in combination, shed forming mechanism, a series of Weft inserting needles, and mechanism for selectively inserting any one or more of the series of needles in the shed, comprising a. needle operating slide, means for moving the slide towards and from the cloth 'selvage independently of the needles, separate means including pivoted latches for connecting each one of the series of needles to said slide, and mechanism operable from a going part of the loom to control the pivotal movement of the latches for operatively connecting any one or more of the series of needles to said slide.

2.111 a loom, in combination, shed form ing mechanism, a slide rail mounted at one side of the loom, a needle operating slide mounted on said rail, a series of weft inserting needles supported adjacent said rail for movement into and out of the shed, operating means for moving the slide alon the rail independently of all of the needles, a pivotally' mounted latch for independently connecting each needle to the slide to be operated thereby, and means for controlling the pivotal movement of the latches.

3. In a loom, in combination, shed forming mechanism, a weft inserting needle,'a selvage shuttle, means for moving the needle through the shed, and means for momentano. i

rily releasing the needle While in the shed 4. In a loom, in combination, shed forming mechanism, a weft inserting needle, a needle operating slide for moving the needle into and out of the shed, a selvage shuttle, and means for momentarily releasing the needle while in the shed from said slide to stop the needle movement during the passage of the selvage shuttle through the weft of the 'needle.

5. In a loom, in combination, shed forming mechanism, a weft inserting needle, a needle operating slide for moving the needle into and out of the shed, a latch connection between the needle and slide, and means near the outer end of the path of slide travel and a second means near the inner end of said path for controlling the latch connection between the needle and slide at points near the opposite ends of the slide travel.

6. In a loom, in combination, shed forming mechanism, a Weft inserting needle, a needle operating slide, means for moving the slide along its path of travel, means for connecting the needle to the slide to operate the needle, and means for releasing the needle from the slide to momentarily bring the needle to rest while it is in the shed.

7. In a loom, in combination, shed forming mechanism, a weft inserting needle, a needle operating slide, means for moving the slide along its path of travel, a selvage shuttle, means for connecting the needle to and releasing it from the slide, and means for momentarily releasing the needle from the slide to bring the needle to rest in the shed and in position for the passage of the selvage shuttle through its weft.

8. In a loom, in combination, shed forming mechanism, a weft inserting needle, a needle operating slide, means for moving the slide along its path of travel, means for connecting the needle to and releasing it from the slide, and means operable from a going part of the loom to momentarily release the needle from said slide while the needle is in the shed.

9. In a loom, in combination, shed forming mechanism, a weft inserting needle, a needle operating slide, means for moving the slide along its path of travel, means for connecting the needle to and releasing it from the slide, and means operable to release the needle from the slide while in the shedand for arrestin the forward movement of the needle whi e the slide continues its forward movement.

10. In a loom, in combination, shed forming mechanism, weft inserting needles, a slide for operating the needles, means for moving the slide along its path of travel, means for connecting the needles to and for releasing them from the slide, and independent means for releasing each needle from the slide while in the shed.

11. In a pile fabric loom, in combination, a weft inserting needle, a needle operating slide, a carrier for presenting pile forming yarns to the weaving point, a lay, means for operating the lay with an uneven beat to delay its beat-up movement while the carrier is presenting the pile yarns to the fabric, means for moving the slide along its path of travel with an even beat or period that does not vary with the uneven beat of the lay and adaptedto impart a pronounced over travel to the slide to thereby accommodate its even beat movement to the uneven beat lay movement,and-means for connecting the needle to and releasing it from said slide as the loom operates.

' 12. In a pile fabric loom, in combination, a weft inserting needle, a needle operating slide, a carrier for presenting pile forming yarns to the weaving point, a lay, means for operating the lay with an uneven beat to delay its beat-up movement while the carrier is presenting the pile yarns to the fabric,-

means for moving the slide along its path of I travel with an even beat or period that does not vary with the uneven beat of the lay and adapted to impart a pronounced over travel to the slide to thereby accommodate its even beat movement to the lay movement,

means for connecting the needle to and releasing it. from said slide, and means for releasing the needle from the slide so that the pronounced over travel of the slide is not imparted to the needle. I

13. In a loom, in combination, shed forming mechanism, a weft inserting needle, a needle operating slide, means for moving the slide along its path of travel and for imparting a pronounced over travel to the slide as it is moved away from the cloth selvage, means for connecting the needle to and releasing it from the slide, and means for releasing the needle from the slide so as to prevent the pronounced over travel of the slide from beingimparted toi the retracted needle.

14. In a loom, in combination, shed form ing mechanism, a plurality of weft inserting needles, a needle 0 crating slide, means for reciprocating the s ide independently of all the needles back and forth along its path of travel, means for detachably connecting any number or all of the plurality of needles to z the slide at one time that such selected number of needles may be passed "through the shed, and mechanism operable from a going part of the loom for controlling the connecting means.

15. In a. loom, in combination, shed formreleasing it from the slide, and mechanism positioned alone the path traveled by the slide and operable to release the needle from theslide before the slide has completed its movement in one direction.

16. In a loom, in combination, shed forming mechanism, a Weft inserting needle, a needle operating slide, means for moving the slide back and forth along its path of travel independently of the needle, means for connectmg the needle to and for releasing it from the slide, and mechanism positioned along the path traveled by the slide and operable to releasethe needle from the slide before the slide has completed its movement in one direction.

FRANK V. GRENNOR. 

